Index-holder for books



(No Model.) v

- J. w. HAYS.

INDEX HOLDER FOR BOOKS.

Patented July 18, 1893;

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JOHN W. HAYS, OF ROBBINSDALE, MINNESOTA.

INDEX-HOLDER FOR BOOKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,508, dated July 18,1893.

I Application filed August 9, 1892. Serial No. 442,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JOHN'W. HAYS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Robbinsdale, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements inIndex-Holders for Books; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention has for its object to provide a convenient and serviceableindex-holder for books.

The invention was especially designed for use in connection with accountbooks, but is equally applicable to all kinds of books employing anindex.

\ The invention will be hereinafter fully described and be defined inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated my device, as appliedto a ledger or similar account book.

In the drawings, like letters referring to like parts throughout,-Figure1 is a plan view of the book and the index holder, in their openpositions ready for use. Fig. 2 is a cross'section, on the line X X ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line YY of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4c is aplan view, on a reduced scale, of the index holder and its support orbed, detached.

A represents the cover and B the body of the account book. The left leafof the cover is recessed, as shown at a.

C is the index holder support, and D is the index holder proper. Theholder support or bed 0 is provided with inturned flanges c, and theindex holder with corresponding inturned flanges d of less width. Theholder D works on the bed or support 0 with a sliding action, and isconnected thereto by a flexible connection E, for permitting andlimiting the outward sliding movement of the holder. The flexibleconnection has sufficient slack for this purpose. In addition to the endflanges d, the holder D is provided with an inturned side marginalflange at, through a slot in which passes outward the forward end orextension of the flexible connection E, which extended end serves as afinger-pull e' for the index holder. The strap or cord E is convenientlysecured to the support 0 and the holder D, by glue or other adhesivematerial, with sufficient slack between its secu red parts, to permitthe sliding action of the holder.

F is the alphabetical or otherwise classified index, which rests on oris secured to the index holder D. The index pad is preferably of alength to exactly fit the holder and is inserted from the back or openend of the same, before the support C is secured to the book. It may,however, be readily placed in position afterward, by simply flexing thepad, so that its opposite ends may be inserted under the end flanges dof the holder. The index F is preferably of a width less than theexposable part of the holder, and is secured thereto with an empty spacebetween its lettered margin and the outer margin (1' of the holder. Thisaffords ready access to the proper letter and leaf of the index. Theindex'is readily secured in this position by gluing the back of the padto the face of the holder.

When constructing the book, the index holder and its support are securedin their proper position, by binding,the support 0 into the recess orseat a in the left leaf of the cover. The support may be secured to theleaf in any suitable way, as by gluing the parts or by overlapping theends of the support, by parts of the cover. When thus secured inposition, the index holder and its support, become a part of the book,always remaining therewith and are always ready for use. When in itsclosed position, the holder is entirely inclosed or incased, by itssupport 0 and the leaf of the cover, and the book may be handled inexactly the. same way as any other ordinary book. When it is desired touse the book, the holder may be drawn out into the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2; and the index will then be exposed to view beyond theouter margin of the book leaves. Any title or name on the index and anycorresponding page of entries in the book on either side, may besimultaneously exposed to View, The convenience and advantage of thisconstruction are obvious.

The construction, as above described, constitutes my preferred way ofconstructing and securing together the book and the holder. It will,however, be readily understood, that the book and the holder might beotherwise ICO . the cover leaf.

constructed and secured together. For example, supposing the same holderand the same support 0 and D and the same flexible connection E to beemployed, the said parts might be secured in working position, by simplyattaching the support 0 to either face of port 0 might be entirelydispensed with, and the recess a in the cover-leaf, be employed as thesupport or bed for the holder; in which event, of course, the inner endof the strap or cord E would be glued, or otherwise fastened to thecover leaf. The use of the metallic support 0, is, however, anadvantage, as it provides a better surface or bed for the holder andwill stand the wear. If 1he holder worked simply in the recess a of thecover, it would rapidly Wear out theleaf. Again,the other face of thecover-leaf might be provided with raised and: inturned flanges on itsends, which would provide suitable retaining guides for the holder; andthe holder be then mounted therein and connected by the strapE to theface of the'leaf.

In the foregoing description, it has been taken for granted that theindex and holder are applied to the left leaf of the cover; but it willof course, be readily understood, that the application might be equallywell made to the right leaf of the cover.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

1. The combination with a book, of an in- On the other hand, the supdexholder, support or bed secured to oneleaf of the book-cover, a slidingin dex holder movable on said bed or support, and a flexible connectionuniting the same to the support for permitting and limiting the outwardmovement of the holder, substantially as described.

2. Thecombinationt with a book cover provided with a recessed leaf,serving as a case for the index holder of an index holder seated in saidrecess with freedom for an outward sliding movement to expose the index.

3. The combination with a book cover having a recessed leaf, serving asa case for the index holder of ani'ndex holder seated in said recess andsecured to the leaf with freedom for only a limited outward movement,.toexpose the index, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a book-cover havinga recessed leaf, serving asacase for the index holder of anindex holder support or bed secured insaid rccess,.a sliding index holder movable outward and inward on saidbed or support, and a slack strapor cord uniting the index holder, tothesaid bed or support, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. HAYS. \Vitnesses:

J AS. F. WILLIAMSON, EMMA F. ELMORE.

